|
Artist Notes:
|
This Christmas card was inspired by the concept of the Katzenklavier or Cat Piano. It was first described by the mystic Athanasius Kircher in his 1650 treatise Musurgia Universalis but without an image of the device. The description included the use of actual cats arranged in a piano casing according to their yowled notes that were cruelly induced by nails attached to the keyboard to prick their tails. Since this instrument employing actual cats was only a fictitious construct, no recordings of its 'music' was ever recorded nor does this card play music! Centuries later, in 2010, Charles, Prince of Wales (now Charles III) was greatly amused by a performance of the tune "Over the Rainbow" on an instrument recreated using squeaky toy cats by Henry Dagg for a garden party held at Clarence House supporting Charles's START initiative for sustainable living. Since I love cats, the idea of using cat toys was more appealing so there you have it!
|
